Combined gas and steam engine.



I. REMI/IEN.

COMBINED GAS AND STEAM ENGINE.A Y APPLICATION FILED JUNI: I0, I9p'9. IIENEWED JUNE 22. 1916.

Lz l Patented Dec. 18,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

@ww QAM l BY l i' y -w/J/z/M ATTORNEY J. RENINIEN.

COMBINED GAS AND STEAM ENGINE.

APPLICATION yFILED JUNE 1o. 1909. nENEwEn1uNE22,191.

Lk E n Patented De@.18, 1917.

` 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Mmm/Ey Lacasse. y

marian sar JRGEN REIVIMEN,

l Piahlhld FQE. y

OF DONORA, lIEENNSYl'iVLtTllLl-., ASSIGNOB TO GEORGE T.. LADD, TRUSTEE, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANA.

COMBINED GAS AND STEAM ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dc. i8, 1917.

Application filed June 10, 1909, Serial No. 501,391. Renewed .Tune 22, 1916. Serial No. 105,293.

To all w/wm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, J ReEN REMMEN, a

A"resident of Donora, in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Gas and Steam Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to explosive engines, and the purpose is to provide an en- I scavenging and cooling means for the explo-v gine of the type specified which is self-starting and reversible, ,and in which special sion cylinder' is provided.

Generally stated the invention consists in providing an explosivor internal combustion engine with means for admitting iiuid pressure to the piston for starting purposes,

the arrangement belng such that'the admission of the fluid pressure does not interfere with the explosions in the cylinder l and also providing means for scavenging the explosion cylinder at such times when the fluid pressure medium is not employed.

Heretofore engines have been devised combining explosion and fluid pressure features, butin ali such cases as far as I am aware the Aexplosion parts of the engine Were inoperative While4 the fluid pressure parts were in operation, so that while the Huid pressure means served to start the .engine they had to be entirely thrown out before the explosions could start. With my arrangement the normal operation of the eX- plosion parts is in no way interfered with by the fluid pressure parts so that While the latter can be used for starting or reversing the engines, the explosions can occur simultaneously therewith and thereby insurethe starting of the engine. Other special features will hereinafter appear.

in the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional' view throughv a cylinder and the main shaft of an explosion engine showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is in part a side vievv and in part a vertical section ofthe air starting valves; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l.

showing a modification; Fig. 4 is a similar view showing stili another modification adapted 'for heavy stationary and marine engines; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the engine shown in Fig. 4.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2,I l represents a cylinder having bores -of different diamete'rs, namely a small bore 2 which constitutes theexplosion space or chamber of the engine and a larger bore l3 which constitutes'the space or chamber in Which the duid pressure medium acts and also forms a compressor chamber fory scavenging purposes v' as Will hereinafter appear. Working in this cylin- 'der is a piston 4 having the smaller head 5 Ifitting bore 42 and a larger head 6 itting thebore 3. This piston is connected by the usual connecting rod 7 to a lcrank-'lon the main shaft 9 which is mounted in the crank case l0 as is usual With explosive engines.

The .explosion chamber 2 is provided with scavenging valve 20 controls a port into the upper end of the chamber `2, which port communicates With a passage 21 in the walls of the cylinder.

The i'luid pressure inlet is through. a port 23 which communicates passage 24 with the space 3 in the larger bore of the cylinder above the head 6 of. the piston... A three- Way valve 25 controls the port 23, passage 24 and lower end of scavenging passage 2l, as is shown in Fig, 1. space 3 is through a port or ports 26 near the lower end of said space, Which exhaust port or ports 'are uncovered by the head 6 When the piston approaches the limit of its downward stroke. The port 26 also-serves as the inlet when the pistong. acts as a pump to force air into theiexplosion cylinder to 4scavenge the same. The admission of the fluid pressure to port 23 is controlled hy valve 28 Working in the chest 29 having the fluid pressure supply connection 30. The valve 28 is normally held closed by a spring 31 and is provided with a stem 32 which is arranged to be actuated by an eccentric or cam 33 on AShaft 34 Which is driven from the The exhaust from the v engine from any .ation there is no connection whatsoever main shaft 9. valve mechanism der engine so as said cylinders in alterna- Eis there shown. the

with four cam pieces lar central portion ai i ends cani projections 3U which at 90 to each other. The the various valves also degrees 'to each, o of the shaft M alte nate valves 28 to admit presso in sucoessien to 7the s cylinders of the eneine. will ret apparent. The sli Si mounted n; it can be .moved end. ise either dire such as by means et a. lever so that Y by it is possible e 'irt the engine in cient. direction For instance, if the cani shaft is moved from its central position in o members underneath thevarve stems, while noved in the other it brings tac cams at the opposite c; said members underneath said stems. exhaust valve cam shaft i7 is similarly ranged and will also be moved 'andi the saine moi-.rement so as to revers' haust valves simultaneously n" valves. This reversing arrangement is i.. o suitable'for small marine engines and en ables the reversing` clutch to be dispensed with. For uses' where the engine :need ny be reversible the .im pieces 33 will he cir. lar on one and have the cams inerely on their opposite end. 'l he 'normal position oit the shaft is such that the rollers on the valve actuating stems contact with the circular part of the cani piece.

1ill/'hen the engine is to Way Valve' 25 is set to the position shown in Fig. l,I cutting; on thcscavenging passage 2l and connecting` the fluid pressure inlet with the space 3 above piston G. The cam shaft 34 is then moved e'ndwise in the desired direction causing the roller on the valve actuating ecm to slide up the cani on the cam 'piece and thereby lifting the Valve 28 and admitting fluid pressure preferably compressed air to the space 3 above the piston head 6 thereby forcing the piston downwardly. As said piston approaches the limit of, its downvard movement the head G uncovers the exhaust port 26. so exhausting the Huid pressure medium. 'lhe cams on shaft 3l open the valves 28 in succession and s1 nce the four cylinders ot' the engine are connect ed in succession to cranks on the main shaft arranged at degrees to each other the admission of the {iuid pressure to the several cylinders in succession naturally starts the position. Duringqthis operu between the fluid pressure :.de of the cylinder and-the explosive side thereof SQ- that e2;-

be started the threeplosive mixture can he drawn into the cylinder 2 and exploded 1n the usual way. Consequently Huid feature can he continued as long` as desired or at least until the explosions are properly established. is cenas the explosions arewell established` .ie cani shari, is moved hack to its normal or lit desired. a spring can he arranged iam shaft hack to nent /i isi.n

as the operator i "tu this position )rhing the taking" in 1 and the scavenging passaC inlet ln this position merely scavenges 'the chi'unh`Y ternate stroke7 i." anus again on l down stroke so that practically no power C ii merely is lost. '.lhis latter is also true when the threecifay valve is in the second posities' described and the pressure in the air tank is approximately the same as ,the compression pressure in the explosion chamber 2.. The air forced through cylinder 2 not only scavenges the same, but also cools the chamber, the piston head, and especially the exhaust valve.

To reverse the engine at any time when running4 the three-way valve is moved'to the positionshoivn in Fig. L the ignition or explosive mixture momentarily cut off and the fluid pressure admitted into liest 29.

Fig. 3 shows a slight modifi-cation wherein each cylinder is provided with ,an admission and exhaust slide valve. is here shown each cylinder is provided with a chest a() in which is a piston valve al controlling the i'loiv of fluid from the admission port 42 to the space 3 and also cxhaustingthe same sit-ion thereby shutting oil' 'the airA i lil-5 'rit The operation of' this modification is substantially as that shown in Fie-s. 1 and 2,

the diliqerence being that the valve l positively controls the exhaust as well as the admission to thespace 3, and the air inlet valve 4l permits of theldrawing in ot' a scavenging charge of air on the downstrolte of the piston into space 3, and closes on the upstroke or' the piston so that this air is forced past valve 21 into clrnnber '.llie valve Lllv can also be mechanically operated so as to shut only on the scavenging stroke.

Figs. 4: andV 5 show a moditication particularly adapted for large marine engines. In this modification the arrangement oit valves is substantially the same as shown in F ig. 3, While the valve operating mechanism comprises cam shafts L5 and reversing link mechanism 46 in the connections. .lt dillers from the two former modifications in having a cylinder with only a` single diameter bore in which there is a plain piston lla, opposite Sides of the piston forming heads for coperation With the chambers or spaces in opposite ends of the cylinder. The lower end of the cylinder is closed by head la and the fluid pressure medium is admitted below the piston and leverts a lifting moven'ient instead of a pushing down movement as in the other form. The 'fluid pressure medium, however, acts upon the full diameter of the piston and therefore gives a strong lifting etlect. By reason orn having the Huid pressure space underneath the piston instead or' above it, the compression of air for scavenging would occur at exactly the opposite ot' the right time for scavenging that particularfcylinder. Consequently the scavenging passage 21n instead of leading to the top ot its own cylinder/,is cross-connected by pipe 21" to the/next adjacent cylinder, shovvn in Fig. 5, so that the air compressed in one cyl inder scavcnges its mate. lll/lith this arrangement it is necessary that at least two cylinders be provided for the engine in order to get the scavenging etlect. Air inlet valves 44a are placed in the crossconnecting pipes 2lb. erated. The engines described being what are known as four cycle engines, the cam shaft 17 or 45 operating the exhaust valve 12' Will of course be rotated at such speed as to open the exhaust valve during each fourth stroke of the piston.

These may bepinechanically opn all forms shown vherein any suitable Huid pressure medium may be used. F or stationary work or large marine engines thev tiuid pressure medium is preferably steam, but for automobile and other small engines Where a steam boiler cannot be very Well applied, the fluid pressure medium will pref` erably be compressed air which can be sup plied by a small compressor operated by the engine. and stored in a suitable reservoir.

but preferably the engine will act as a comy presser as described in connection with Figs. l and Q. i

rlhe engine described can be positively started by the fluid pressure medium, the reciliirocation oil the piston so set up draW- ing in the explosive mixture which is compressed on the subsequent stroke of the piston. The admission of the `fluid pressure uiediunr does not interfere at all with the explosive end of the cylinder, so that the explosions may begin asisoon as the engine starts and in this way the starting is very reliable and auniot fail. After the engine is started the space in the cylinder in which the fluid pressure medimnvvas4 applied acts as a compressor for scavenging and cooling the explosion chamber, thereby insuring a clean or unadulterated mixture in the cylinder and making the explosion feature. of the' engine much more reliable than where no special scavenger is provided for. and also assisting in cooling the cylinder, piston head and exhaust valve. Even when running the engine can be reversed by temporarily cutting o-'tl the ignition or the explosive mix'y ture, turning on the fluid pressure medium and properly shifting the valve operating mechanism. 1What l claim is: l. lu a combined internal combustion and fluid pressure engine. the combination of a singlev cylinder. a :piston having two heads therein, said cylinder having a chamber for Y 11o to one chamber ot sard cylider and an outg each head. an'iulet for an explosive mixture let tor exploded gases therefrom, a luid pressure inlet to the other chamber of the;

cylinder, an exhaust t'or said fluid pressure' j 1151 to admit and exhaust a fluid pressure'mjef dium lo the latter chamber, said valve mech-'f therefrom. and valve mechanism arranffed.

anis-m being arranged on successive strokes to alternatelyY connect said pressure cham# ber to said tluid pressure inlet and to said explosionchamber.

lu ar combined internal combustion and tluid pressure. euginethe combination of f a cylinder having an explosion chamber, a"

piston having tvvo heads. one in said chain- Huid 4pressure engine, the combination of an ber, a fluid pressure space arranged to ccA operate with the second head of said piston, Avalve mechanism arranged to control the supply of fluid pressure to said space, a passage connecting said spacewvith the explosion chamber, and a three-way valve arranged to connect said space alternat to the Huid pressure inlet and to the explosion chamber.

4,. ln a combined internal combustion and "xplosion chamber, a piston having two heads, one in said chamber, a fluid pressure space arranged to coperate with the second head of said piston, valve 4mechanism for controlling the supply of fluid pressure to said space, connections between said space and the explosion chamber arranged to 'scavenge 'the latter continuou l during every second engine stroke when ie fluid pressure medium is cut oil, and reversing means in the fluid pressure controlled valve operating mechanism. l

5. ln a combined combustion and fluid pressure engine, the combination of a single cylinder having bores of different diameters, a single piston therein having heads of different diameters, admission and exhaust for explosive mixtures tothe smallervbore oi' saidcylinder, a fluid pressure inlet to the larger bore of the piston, an exhaust for the Huid pressure therefrom having no connection with the explosion chamber, a threeway valve controlling said inlet', and mechanism for actuating said valve.

G. In a combined internal combustion and 'fluid pressure engine, the combination of a single cylinder havino bores of different diameters, one of said llores serving as an explosion chamber and the other as a fluid pressure chamber, a single piston in said cylinder having heads of different diameters, admission and exhaust mechanism for explosive mixtures to the explosion bore of the cylinder. a fluid pressure inlet to the .larger bore of the cylinder, an exhaust for said fluid pressure therefrom having no connection with the explosion chamber, a three.

way valve controlling said fluid pressure inlet, mechanism for actuatmg said valve, and reversing means 1n said actuatmg mechanism.

7. ln. a combined internal combustion and Huid pressure engine, the combination of a.. cylinder, a piston therein provided with two heads, explosive mixture admission and exhaust valves controlling passages to one head ofsa'ld piston, a luld pressure medium valve arranged to admit fluid pressure to and exhaust it from the other head of said piston, 'and connections whereby the last named head upon one stroke compresses air for scavenging the explosioncylinder and on the next stroke compresses air for starting the engine.

8. ln a combined internal combustion and `fluid pressure engine, the combination of a cylinder having bores of different diameters, a piston therein having heads of di'erent diameters, valve mechanism for controllingthe admission and exhaust of explosive niixtiue to one head of said piston, valve mechanism :for controlling the flow ci luid pressure to the other head of said piston, and connections 1from the last named head to the explosion chamber 'whereby the Huid pressure head compresses air during each alter# nate stroke and scavenges the explosion cylinder during the intermediate strokes.

9. lfn a combined internal combustion and uid pressure engine, the combination of an explosion cylinder, a piston therein, an air pressure spa-ce arranged in conjunction with a head 'ci said piston, valve mechanism arranged to control the supply of compressed air to said space, a passage connecting said space with the explosion cylinder, and a three-way valve arranged to connect the space either tothe compressed air inlet or to the explosion cylinder or to both, the valve mechanism being arranged when not set to admit fluid pressure to the space in -the cylinder to automatically open andper.-

mit compressed air generated by the piston' pressure generated by the piston can open said valve and pass to the supply of fluid pressure.

11. ln an internal combustion engine the combination of a cylinder, a piston therein having two heads, an inletl for the explosivemixture to one head of said piston and an. outlet for exploded gases therefrom, mechanism arranged to open said outlet during each fourth strolre of the piston, an air inlet to the other head of the piston, and a passage for connecting the space at the other head of the pn] f to the explosion chamber when the exhe therefrom is open, said passage being controlled by non-positivelyactuated valves only.

valve opening means is inoperative fluid.-

12. In an internal combustion engine the combination of a cylinder, a piston therein having two heads, 'an inlet for explosive mixture to one head of said piston and an exhaust outlet for exploded gases ti'iererom, mechanism arranged to open. said exhaust outlet during,y each fourth stroke of the piston, an air inlet to the other head 0f the piston, ay passage connecting the space at 10 -said other head of thepston with the explosion chamber, and a non-positively-actuated4 check valve 1n said passage seating away from the explosion chamber.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand.

JRGEN REMMEN 1Witnesses CLYDE T. LEWIS, HELEN LooMls. 

